Swab



S. M. REBER June 12, 1934.

sus

Filed July 14. 11932 Patented Julie '12, 1934 Selah M. Rebel', Los

SWAB

Angeles, Calif., assigner to Ever-Dry Laboratories Inc., Los Angeles,Calif., a corporation of Nevada ApplicationV July 14, 1932, Serial N0.622,441

12 Claims.

My invention relates to swabs. Although many aspects of my invention arenot restricted to such use, it is more particularly concerned withbottle cap-carried swabs of the type normally stored within the contentsof the bottle. In the specific embodiment herein described, the swab isused for applying an anti-perspirant astringent such as an aluminium orzinc chloride preparation,.

to which certain features of my invention are pecularly applicable. f

One object of my invention is a swab wherein the porous material may bevsecured to the supporting stem without cementing or gluing and withoutthe necessity of additional securing parts and preferably also whereinthe porous material is non-rotatably secured to the stem.

Another object of my invention is an absorbent element for the swab ofconsiderable length and preferably cylindrical which may take advantageof the manufacturing'economies of the use of sheet stock of a thicknessconsiderably less than the length of the swab.

A further feature of my invention is that the cylindrical swab iscompressed longitudinally, but still transversely of' the grain of thefelt, in such a manner that the liquid absorbing interstices tend ingeneral to extend in a plane which is at a normal to the longitudinalaxis of the swab.

Other phases of my invention are concerned with the absorbent materialused for the swab, the material used for the stem, and the mounting ofthe stem. y

The foregoing, together with further objects, features and advantages ofmy invention are set forth in the following description of a specificembodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a bottle of liquid preparation withinwhich the swab of my invention is shown;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the parts constituting, theswab unit prior to assembly;

Fig. 3 shows in cross section the swab-forming felt washers positionedupon the stem but before compression to final position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the swab washers compressed tofinal position and showing in cross section the handle-forming canmounted on the opposite end of the stem; and

' Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 showingthe arrangement of th barbs.

InFig.A 1 I have shown a bottle 10v having 'an externally threaded neck1l for the reception of 55 a closure cap 12 internally threaded at 13 as(Cl. 12S-269) shown in Fig. 4. The bore 14 of a downwardly projectingcentral boss 15 of the cap 12 `receives and mounts the reduced, end of astem 16, the opposite end of which carries a swab element 17.

The swab element 17, the stem 16, and the cap 12 6s constitute the swabunit.v The cap 12 forms a handle 'for the swab when in use and a support-for'the swab when stored in the bottle.

For the swab element 17, I prefer to use a plurality of felt discs 18'ofconsiderable thickness 65 but still of considerable less normalthickness than the over-all length of the completed swab element 17.This avoids the greater manufacturing expense of cutting cylindricalplugs from thick sheets of felt as wouldbe necessary if the swab were ofone piece but of comparable length. It also permits the use of feltstock of a more standard thickness.

Each felt disc 418 is formed with a small cir- 'cular'bbre 19 by meansof which the discs-or 75 washers-are threaded on to the stem over itsupper end and pushed down against the head or button 20 at the lower endof the stem, as shown in Fig. 3. The stem 16, adjacent its lower end,contains two longitudinally spaced pairs of diametrically opposed barbs21. The barbs 21 are of thin stock and for conveniencein mounting themintegral with the stem, are arranged on a diametrioal plane. The upperedges of the barbs i are/inclined; their lower edges are transverse-to35 the axis of the stem or preferably somewhat un-V dercut. If, as hereshown, the swab element 17 comprises three felt discs 18, the points ofthe lower pair of barbs are spaced from the button 20 by approximatelythe normal Vthickness of a 90 disc 18, and the'points of the upper pairof barbs are spaced a corresponding distance from the points of thelower pair 'of barbs, as indicated in Fig. 3. After assembly in theposition of Fig. 3,

the washers are compressed downwardly against the head 20 to theposition of Fig. 4, where the uppermost pair of barbs engages behind theupper surface of the third felt disc 18. Thus the felt washers arecompressed at their centers to approximately two-thirds of their normalthicknesses. The points of the lower set ofbarbs will engage at amidpoint of the intermediate felt disc. 'I'he points of the barbs keepthe discs fromA rotating on the stem. Rotation of the lowermost disc mayfurther be checked by tooth-like webs 22 in the corner formed by thejuncture of the head and stem. For convenience in moulding, these teeth22 may be co-planar with the barbs 21.

In addition to engaging the lower faceof the rst washer to preventitsrotation.- they constitute 110 corner braces to reinforce the head andbrace its joint with the stem.

After the felt discs 18 constituting the swab element 17 are thusassembled upon the stem, the opposite end of the stemwhich mayconveniently be reduced somewhat in diameter-is cemented into the socketor bore 14 of the cap 12 vor otherwise suitably secured.

My construction of, and mounting of, the swab element 17 has manyadvantages. Felt in sheet form is normally compressed across itsthickness with the'result that the interstices tend to run for the mostpart in the plane of the sheet. This is even more true in thinner stockthan in un usually thick stock. When the discs 18 are cut from the sheetstock, and then mounted on the stem, the interstices tend to run in a.plane at a normal to the axis of the stem and therefore more or lessradially. When the washers are in the nal position of Fig. 4, the amountof compression is greater near the stem than at the periphery of theswab element 17 as shown in Fig. 4. When the swab is immersed in liquid,the interstices absorb water more or less radially in`- wardly ratherthan longitudinally. vBecause the longitudinal compression is less atthe periphery than near the stem, the greatest amount of liquid will beabsorbed near the periphery and less will be absorbed adjacent the stem.In subsequently applying the immersed swab, the liquid preparation willbe held for the most part adjacent the swab, where it is most readilytransferred.

Each washer is directly engaged by the points Vof va barb 21 or tooth 22to prevent its rotation.

If the washers were free to rotate, they would prove annoying inapplying the preparation and they would also tend to enlarge theircenter bores until they came off.

The assembling of the swab element 17 on the stem, is, as is apparent, avery simple and inexpensive production step, and one which eliminatesthe necessity of extra clamping or securing parts. It also avoids thenecessity of gluing or cementing the swab onto the stem. Cementing wouldat best be difiicult because of the chemical action of the bottlecontents, and would be especially diiicult in the use of a plurality ofswab discs. The assembly of my swab element 17 on to the stem 16 is sosimple that if desired the manufacturer of the preparation may supplyextra discs ,so that the purchaser may renew the swab element after theinitial one has become defective. In such case, a simple friction `fitor other suitable detachable scurement would be substituted for thecementing of the stem to the cap.

When the preparation to be applied is 'aluminium chloride, as in thepresent instance, or is of some other formula which is in practiceslightly acid, I prefer to mould the stem and cap from an acid-resistingphenol condensation compound Vsuch as Colt Rock as manufactured by ColtsPatent Firearms Manufacturing Co. of Hartford, Connecticut. The cementused for securing the stem -to the cover may then be a Bakelite cementof glycerine and litharge, which is not affected by the aluminiumchloride.

Another .feature of my invention is the material whereof the swabelement 17 is made. For use with an aluminium chloride or zinc chloridepreparation the felt discs constituting the swab element are of wool. -Ihave found that'wool is not attacked by these preparations as is cottonor even silk. Also the wool does not aifect the preparation as wouldSponge rubber which mparts an ill smelling sulphurous contamination tothese and other preparations.

While I y have illustrated and described this specific embodiment of myinvention, I contemplate that changes and substitutions may be madetherein without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A swab comprising a supporting stem, a head at the end thereof, aplurality of absorbent Washers mounted on the stem, and a barb on thestem over which the washers pass for holding the washers compressedlongitudinally of the stem and against the head.

2. A swab comprising a supporting stem and a swab element mountedthereon, the swab element being of compressible absorbent felt and ofcylindrical conformation, the swab element being under greaterlongitudinal compression adjacent its axis than adjacent its periphery,a swab stem comprising a rod shaped body, a head at one end thereof, andbarbs projecting from the stem and facing the head for retaining "saidaxial compression.

3. A swab stem comprising a rod, a head at one end of the rod, anintegral barb projecting from the rod and facing the head, and anonintegral handle-forming cap attachably secured to the other end.

4. A swab stem comprising a rod, a button-like head formed integrallytherewith at one end thereof, an integrally formed barb projecting fromthe rod a spaced distance from the head, and a tooth radially extendingfrom the rod and integral with the head.

5. A stem for an applicator swab, the stem comprising a rod-like body, abutton-like head formed at one end thereof and diametrically opposedbarbs extending from the rod-like body a spaced distance from the headand facing the head.

6. A swab stem of moulded material comprising a rod-,like body and abutton-like head at one end thereof, and an integrally formed tooth thebase of which projects from the head and the irmer edge of which mergeswith the rod-like body at an axially spaced distance from the headLforreinforcing 'the juncture of the head with the body and for preventingthe rotation of a cushionlike body pressed against it.

7. A swab comprising a rod-like stem, one end thereof, a plurality ofwashers of absorbent material mounted on and surrounding the stem andagainst the head, and means for preventing the rotation of the washerscomprising the washer which rests against the head and a barb projectingfrom the rod a spaced distance from the head for engaging another of thewashers.

8. A swab comprising a rod-like stem, a head at 135 one end thereof, anda group of washers mounted upon and surrounding the rod, the groupcomprising three or more washersin contact with each otherlongitudinally of the stem with one washer a head at 1:25

ing a tooth projecting from the head for engag- 1.3.9

in contact with the head and means for holding 149 the washers on therod and against rotation and under compression longitudinally of therod, comprising a tooth radially extending from the rod and integralwith the head and engaging one of the washers, a barb projecting fromthe rod and 1515 one end thereof, and a group of washers mounted 150upon and surrounding the rod, the group comprising three or more washersin contact with each other longitudinally of the stem with one washer incontact with the head and means for holding the washers on the rod andagainst rotation and under compression longitudinally of the rod,comprising a tooth radially extending from the rod and integral with thehead and engaging one of the washers, a barb projecting from the rod andspaced longitudinally from the head and penetrating the face oppositethe head of the washer remote from the head and another barb between therst mentioned barb and the head projecting from the rod and engaging anintermediate washer and said remote washer.

10. A swab comprising a rod-like stem of moulded composition material, abutton-like head formed integrally with the stem at one end thereof, aplurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of diametrically exposed thinbarbs integrally with and extending radially from the stem, the barbsbeing co-planar and a plurality of felt washers surrounding the stem andlongitudinally compressed against the head, the pair of barbs mostremote from the head engaging the end face of the washer most remotefrom the head to hold the washers under compression b'etween said headand said most remote pair of barbs.

11. A cylindrically conformed longitudinally elongated medicant swabcomprising a plurality of c'ontiguously, axially and non-rotatablymounted transversely disposed Washer-shaped laminations cut fromabsorbent felt in sheet form wherein the bers run largely in the generalplane of the sheet and with the axes of the washers at a normal to thesheet.

12. A cylindrically conformed longitudinally elongated medicant swabcomprising a plurality of transversely disposed washer-shapedlaminations cut from absorbent felt in sheet form wherein the fibers runlargely in the general .plane of the sheet and with the axes of thewashers at a normal to the sheet, the laminations being axially andnon-rotatably mounted and axially compressed together face-to-face withgreater coml pression adjacent their centers than at their peripheriesiA SELAH M. REBER.

